In a stunning development that came together in a matter of hours, Tommy Tuberville left Texas Tech on Saturday and was named the next head coach at Cincinnati.

Tuberville, 58, departs Tech after three seasons. He will take over for Butch Jones, who on Friday took a job as the head coach at Tennessee.

The move came as a major shock to Tech officials and players. Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt said he received a phone call from Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock at 9:15 a.m., which Hocutt let go to voicemail because he was watching his son’s soccer game.

At 10:30 a.m., Tuberville called Hocutt and said he would resign as Tech’s coach to take the same position at Cincinnati.

Hocutt was caught off guard.

“As recently as yesterday (Tuberville) looked me in the eye and gave me his commitment and dedication to Texas Tech football,” Hocutt said on Saturday, “and leading this football program forward.”

One day later he was gone, inking a five-year contract with Cincinnati.

Babcock said during a press conference introducing Tuberville to fans, boosters and media members in Cincinnati that he was “a bit embarrassed” that he wasn’t able to discuss the situation with Hocutt on the phone.

It mattered little by day’s end, as Tuberville stepped to a podium adorned with a pair of Cincinnati football helmets, lifted his fist in the air and shouted, “I’m proud to be a Bearcat!”

“I left a good group of young men about 1,500 miles away,” said Tuberville, whose wife Suzanne is from Guilford, Ind., about 30 miles from Cincinnati. “I’m proud of each and every one of them. We went through some tough times and some great times, and that’s what athletics is all about.”

Tuberville spoke of the desire to bring Cincinnati to the “next level,” while back in Lubbock, Hocutt told members of the assembled media that despite Saturday’s surprise developments, he believes the football program at Tech is positioned well.

“This is a great job,” Hocutt said. “And this is a football program that has the resources and facilities to compete at the highest levels, and we’re going to find the right leader for us at this time.”

Tech Chancellor Kent Hance also expressed optimism.

“I do think there’s no doubt that the cupboard is better today than it was when he got here, the material,” Hance said. “So the right guy will come in and win.”

Hance declined to answer further questions.

Tech officials did not expect to be in the midst of a coaching search again this offseason, not after Hocutt and Tuberville got together Friday in Tuberville’s office.

“The context of that conversation was the future of Texas Tech football and where we need to go,” Hocutt said. “Obviously we were frustrated with the way that this season ended. We expected more. And I think all of our fans were frustrated and disappointed.

“That being said, it was in a coversation about what it’s going to take to get us back to the level that we’ve been at and to get us back to the level that we’ve been at and to get to a position where we’re competing for the Big 12 Conference championship.”

Hocutt was asked if he felt betrayed given the conversation he had with Tuberville a day before he resigned.

“Do I feel betrayed?” Hocutt said. “Again, it’s a business. And I wish Coach Tuberville the best and he’s made the right decision for him and is family.”

Tuberville had three years remaining on his contract at a base salary of $300,000 per year, and he’ll be required to pay Tech a $900,000 buyout. Hocutt rebutted reports that Tuberville left because he did not receive a contract extension.

“There was no conversation about his contract in any way,” said Hocutt, who added he hadn’t had any conversations with Tuberville’s agent.

Tuberville, hired 25 months ago after the controversial firing of Mike Leach, went 20-17 in three seasons, including a 9-17 mark in the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders got two bowl bids under him, but last year had the program’s first losing season since 1992.

Tech players were told by Tuberville during an 11 a.m. meeting on Saturday that he would be resigning his post as the coach at Tech.

“The meeting with players and coaches was pretty emotional,” a source told the Avalanche-Journal. “He struggled with the decision because of what he’s done there for three years. When he left, the players clapped for him. It was pretty nice. It was a good deal.”

But a number of players took to Twitter shortly after the news from Tuberville to voice frustration.

“Can’t believe what just happened,” senior safety Cody Davis tweeted. “Feel sorry for the young guys. Been through this before and it is not a fun process.”

Other players expressed stronger emotion.

“Never felt more anger in my life,” sophomore tight end Jace Amaro tweeted. “I vow, I swear, I will do everything I can next year, and Texas Tech will win the Big (12) championship.”

Outside the Tech football facility Saturday afternoon, wide receiver Darrin Moore said “yes” when asked if players were stunned by the news, but he declined further comment.

After Tech started 6-1 this season, Tuberville’s name was heavily involved in rumors related to a number of Southeastern Conference jobs that were expected to be open by the end of this season. Those rumors — Tuberville had been linked to openings at Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky — began to die down as Tech lost four of its last five games to end the season.

As the head coaching positions were filled at those schools in recent days, it appeared Tuberville would be staying put in Lubbock for a fourth season. But that all changed in a lightning-quick turn of events on Saturday.

“It happened very quick,” Tuberville said. “I was perfectly satisfied. I had a great home. Lubbock, Texas and the people of west Texas are great people. They love football. But there was something when Whit called where I said, ‘You know what, let me think about this.’

“My name over the years, for whatever the reason, goes out like a light whenever there is a job opening. People think I oughta be the coach there. Not that I’m bragging, it’s just that we’ve won a couple of games and your name goes out there. Usually it goes over my head. This job didn’t do that. It caught my eye.”

Rumors of Tuberville being unhappy in Lubbock began surfacing not long after he was hired in 2010. He never completely won over a fan base that has been divided since Leach was fired. As a defense-first coach during his days in the SEC at Ole Miss and Auburn, Tuberville often lamented how difficult it was to win with that style in an offense-happy conference like the Big 12.

“It’s tough to play defense in this league,” he said after Tech lost to Baylor, 52-45, on Nov. 24.

Hocutt would not discuss the particulars of his Saturday morning conversation with Tuberville, nor would he address why he thought Tuberville would want to leave Tech.

“I would probably ask to keep the conversation between Tommy and I private,” Hocutt said. “But if that’s a question, I would encourage you to ask Tommy why he ultimately made the decision to go to Cincinnati.”

It is not yet clear who will coach Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Minnesota on Dec. 28. Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown has interviewed for the head coach opening at Southern Mississippi and was scheduled to interview with Louisiana Tech on Saturday, a source said.

Hocutt said he was given assurances by the remaining coaches on the staff that they will remain in Lubbock to prepare the team for its bowl game.

Tuberville, who won’t coach Cincinnati in its bowl game, confirmed that Tech’s assistants would stay in place this month. But some of them, he said, could join the Cincinnati staff after Tech’s bowl game.

“Regardless of the situation,” Tech senior quarterback Seth Doege wrote on Twitter, “we still have a bowl game to WIN. We have great leadership to push this team forward. It’s about us right now and once we WIN this bowl game everything else well take care of itself.”

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Hard not to borrow from Texas Monthly's cover when Tom Delay was kicked out for being the corrupt and hateful cheat he was in national politics: "Don't Let the Door Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya!"

The "Bearcats" are now the "Barecats"!!!

WKRP has just changed its sound off to W CRAPPY !!!!

Don Williams should move to Ohio and just stay there, and take Hyatt with you, with all of those other Admin hacks!!!!!

Kent Hance should publicly apologize to Mike Leach, beg for this return, and open up the checkbook for a return of the Pirate.

That won't happen because Kent Hance is THE problem behind all of this and instead, they will PR and SPIN their way away from Tubs in an effort to make themselves look good somehow. BS.... BS... BS...we've said it from Day One, now it is about time that the Hance Idiots return to the 2+2=4 world of reason, logic, fairness and integrity. Take the next step and get rid of the LYING-LAWYER-LOBBYIST-POLITICIAN.

Isn't it a little ironic that TT leaves and the Tech officials are, "completely blindsided" by it, yet they used to threaten actions against a certain previous coach for looking at other jobs but never left. Just funny. Karma I guess.

Jace always has the option of running off with a credit card to Free Shoes U in Florida. Out with the trash, and a return to the good days with the likes of Zach Thomas, Wes Welker, Danny Amandola, Dwayne Slay....guys Tubs never would have recruited from his luxury box CEO investment fraud/ponzi scheme approach. The guy was a parasite at Miami and elsewhere, perfect for ESPN.

Did Tubby notify Hance he was looking as was demanded of Leach?
WIll Tubby be paid a bonus or other severance as he bails out?
Are the laws on Ponzi schemes more lenient in Ohio than in Texas or Alabama?
Will Hance have the good sense to go after Kliff, or will he find another good old boy has been?
What on earth were those poor people in Cincinnati thinking?
Does Cincinnati need a chancellor?

My entire post: Kingsbury. But let me tell you what's wrong. It is entirely possible Hocutt has never met Kingsbury.

Three years down the drain, folks.

If the pay deal is the same at Tech as it was December 30, 2009; that means our fearless leaders can bring in Dicky Grigg and cheat Tubs out of his last year of COMPLETED work. And you know what? I'm against it. And all of the rest of you are against it as well. Because it's not right. We're plenty ashamed of the ploy used last time.

If Hance so much as utters the term "football coach" during the recruiting process I have no doubt you can kiss our accreditation bye bye. We were too lucky last time.

Dear God I thought we were going to have to run him out. Now we can look for a real winner. Hopefully we can reunite as a fan base and find someone that can win in the Big 12. The game has seriously passed Fluberville by. I hope Cincinnati knows what they are getting. One more thing: Championships. Haha maybe that'll be easier for him in the Big Least.

Tuberville figured out he couldn't make the Big XII grade so he's bailing. Maybe the next guy will be better... Maybe not. At least we have an opportunity to upgrade. We'll see what our leaders come up with. Of course when you see Hance making comments like the one below you have to wonder!

"I do think there's no doubt that the cupboard is better today than it was when he got here, the material," Tech Chancellor Kent Hance said. "So the right guy will come in and win."

Holy Birther! Which year will Rick Perry remember? Will he recall the year Tubs underachieved with the great team Mike Leach left? Will Perry remember the 5-7 team that lost 66-6? Or, will Rick Perry, Kent Hance's idea of a genius, recall a third straight year of lies and BS from the coach, Tech Admin and local sports puppets?

We know only 2 of 3 are possible....we know we are a Rick Perry/ Kent Hance type of U these days.

Big(ger) 12 with UC Bearcats
The press conference is open to the public. 6:30 at Fifth Third Arena. Let's give Tommy a nice welcome to the UC family!
Reply · 5 · Like · Follow Post · 2 minutes ago

Thad Miller · Top Commenter
I will admit I dont know a lot about Tommy Tuberville except the guy wins in some tough conferences. He should open some doors to south recruiting since we can't get quality Ohio recruits. Rumor is Bobby Petrino will be his OC if he doesn't land a head coaching job soon.
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · 24 minutes ago

Jamie Harding · Top Commenter · Principia
I think Tubby is a good hire for UC. My daughter is an Auburn alum, so we remember him well from his AU days. He ran a clean program and his players kept up their academics.
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · 30 minutes ago

Thad Miller · Top Commenter
Yes the folks who were asking for KC make our whole fan base look ridiculous. The guy is not even a good secondary coach, what makes people think he could be a good head coach? The fact that he gets excited on the sidelines and jumps around?
Reply · 1 · Like · 26 minutes ago

At long last the Tech nightmare is over! Fans can again proudly hang their Tech Christmas ornaments on their trees this year! Now, let's get rid of the Tech Koolaid Machine and get back to the days we all loved with honest and fair reporting! The only problem left now is how to get rid of Hance and the band will be playing "Happy Days are Here Again!" All is almost well in the Tech Nation!

Tommy is leaving because he didn't have support of the entire fan base. Far too many losers were wanting him to fail just so they could rub Hance's nose in it. I'm not a fan of Hance but this coach (just like the next one) deserved our support. You haters can rejoice as you are responsible for this mess and now own it. It should speak volumes that Tommy thinks Cincy is a better job than Tech. Are you losers going to hate the next coach too just because of what happened to Mike (a friend of mine by the way)?

is nothing but a mouthpiece for a corrupt board of regents. He has absolutely zero backbone. He has proven that time and time again. He has to go, too. As long as he is calling the shots, Tech has no chance of achieving anything but mediocrity.